"Welcome to the Hilton Bellevue!"
2025-05-16 07:15 - 08:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Salvation Army Eastside Corps, 911 164th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98008, United States
Tom Hope – General Manager
Hilton Bellevue
Cary Kopczynski, long-time BBRC member will introduce our speaker this morning, Tom Hope. Tom is the General Manager of the Hilton Bellevue and will meet with us and share more information about this Hilton property he manages. Please note our meeting room will be the Chelan Room which is more spacious than the Cascades Room where we met on Friday, May 9.
About the Speaker
Tom Hope has been the General Manager of the Hilton Bellevue since 2018.

No meeting today!
2025-05-23 07:15 - 08:30 | The Salvation Army Eastside Corps, 911 164th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98008, United States
Thank you to All – United States Service members
from the past, and present!Remember them this Memorial Day weekend! We appreciate their willingness to protect our country and keep us safe!
About the Speaker
Our next in person meeting is Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Bellevue Hilton. Our speaker will be Rotary District 5030 District Governor (2024-2025) Rachele Bouchand!

"Creating a Bridge to Attract Young Professionals to Rotary"
2025-05-30 07:15 - 08:30 | The Salvation Army Eastside Corps, 911 164th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98008, United States
Rachele Bouchand – District Governor 2024-25
Rotary International District 5030
Creating a Bridge to Attract Young Professionals to Rotary. There is a growing demand for leadership training, mentorship and making a meaningful impact in our communities. However, many don’t know that Rotary has been providing expertise in these areas for several years. We’ll discuss how to use storytelling to share our experiences. Additionally, we will explore existing programs and resources where people can deepen their leadership training, mentorship and increase their impact in their local and global communities. We’ll end with tangible examples of how to bridge the gap between Seattle International District Rotary Club’s existing strengths and connecting with others.
About the Speaker
Rachele currently serves as the Governor of District 5030. She’s been a member of the Bellevue Rotary Club since 2009 and is focused on growing leadership opportunities for our members through the RISE (Rotarians Inspired to Succeed and Engage) leadership program. Rachele was also a member of the Rotary International Next Generation Conference in 2014, which represented 30 emerging Rotary leaders across the United States. Lastly, she was able to blend her vocational and Rotary lives when she served as a member of the Global Polio Finance Committee.
Her Rotary classification is Financial Services-Family Office. Rachele currently serves as Managing Director of Pathstone, where she is responsible for advising families and single-family offices on a variety of wealth management and estate planning topics. She has over 20 years’ experience working with multi-generational wealth and foundations.

"Palestinians and Israelis: How did we get here and where do we go from here?"
2025-06-06 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Jim Barnhart – Senior Director, International Consulting firm
Himself
Jim Barnhart will offer an “on-the-ground” perspective on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including a brief history and possible ways of lowering the state of the crisis when he joins us on Friday, June 6.
Jim will be introduced by Jenny Andrews.
About the Speaker
Jim Barnhart is currently the Senior Director for Agriculture with JE Austin, an international consulting firm. He also serves as an External Advisor to McKinsey and Company. Jim has nearly 40 years of international and domestic development experience. He spent over two decades at USAID, living and working across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia—overseeing programs in agriculture, economic growth, education, and water security. As Mission Director, he led USAID teams in Jordan, Albania, and Lebanon, and regularly served as Acting Ambassador and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in Jordan, Albania, and Lebanon. Jim finished his diplomatic career as the Assistant to the Administrator, guiding the USAID Bureau of Resilience and Food Security during the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He served as Co-Deputy Coordinator of the US Government’s Feed the Future Program, retiring as a Career Minister in the Senior Foreign Service. Most recently, Jim performed the role of Executive Director at Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center, outside of Seattle, where he guided work in salmon-safe organic farming, riparian restoration and preservation, and experiential education programs. Jim has a Ph.D. in Economics from Georgia State University, a Masters of International Relations from SAIS/Johns Hopkins, and a Bachelor’s degree from Furman University.

United States Golf Association (USGA): "For the Good of the Game"
2025-06-13 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Kristan Strout – Major Gift Officer
USGA Foundation
The USGA is a nonprofit, mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community; to showcase the game’s best and the USGA museum; to govern the game; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion.
In 2023, the USGA launched the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) – the country’s first unified pathway to nurture the potential of America’s top young golfers, starting with competitive junior golf and progressing to the pinnacles of the sport. The program’s goal is to identify, train, develop, fund and support the nation’s most promising young players – regardless of cultural, geographic or financial background. The USNDP provides financial grants designed to mitigate barriers of cost to promising junior golfers who demonstrate both financial need and the potential to progress through the USNDP pathway.
Kristan Strout, of the USGA Foundation, will provide the latest on the USNDP team and grant program and USGA’s top priorities to advance the game. She will also share opportunities to get involved and upcoming USGA championships in the area.
About the Speaker
Kristan Strout is a Major Gift Officer for the USGA Foundation covering the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. The Foundation serves as the member engagement and philanthropic giving program within the USGA. It secures resources to fulfill the USGA’s commitment to invest in programs and innovative solutions that best serve golf for all who love and play it.
A Boston resident, Kristan comes to the USGA with a background in college athletics having worked in the Athletic Department at Harvard University as Assistant Director of the Harvard Varsity Club and the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College where she was a two-time captain of the women’s basketball team, a Masters in Sports Leadership from Northeastern University, and an MBA from Husson University.

"The Madrone School / Autism Therapy in a School Setting" via Zoom
2025-06-20 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Dawn Myre – Executive Director
The Madrone SchoolDawn spoke to us a few weeks ago briefly on The Madrone School which provides a school setting for autistic children but today will tell us more about the school and its mission, vision, and values.
The Madrone School is a non-profit organization that provides an alternative to the public school system in the greater Seattle area. The school offers individualized services to autistic students and their families. Their multidisciplinary team uses evidence-based therapies and personalized academics to help each child reach their maximum potential. The Madrone School provides a 1:1 student-to-staff ratio to ensure each child receives the support they need.
About the Speaker
Dawn is a leader in healthcare and education with a passion for serving the underserved. As the new Executive Director at The Madrone School/The Grady Clinic she brings over 20 years of experience in program development and growth management to further the school’s mission of increasing accessibility to high quality therapeutic and academic services for children with autism.
Prior to The Madrone School Dawn was the Chief Operating Officer at the largest behavioral healthcare provider in the region; overseeing inpatient services, outpatient services, and an alternative school program that served over 120 students and 40+ school districts. Dawn is a Washington native and lives with her husband and two daughters in Redmond, Washington.

No Meeting Today!
2025-06-27 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Rotating the Wheels is – Saturday,
June 28 at Newport Shores Yacht Club
Welcome Kevin Klustner as the 2025-26 BBRC President! Thank you, Sheldon Sweeney, who ends his tenure as 2024-25 BBRC President!
About the Speaker
Looking forward to seeing you there.

No meeting today!
2025-07-04 07:15 - 08:30 | WA
Happy Fourth of July! – Enjoy Independence Day
and your holiday weekend!
Our next meeting is July 11 at the Bellevue Hilton.
About the Speaker
Megan Adams of Visit Bellevue will be BBRC’s speaker July 11, 2025!

"What's New and What's coming to Bellevue"
2025-07-11 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Megan Adams – Director of Destination Stewardship and Community Relations
Visit Bellevue
Visit Bellevue is the official Destination Management Organization for the City of Bellevue. They are proud to partner with local businesses to promote Bellevue to people across the globe and work alongside our community to build events and programs that serve our region and visitors alike. Megan will be sharing what’s new and what’s coming to Bellevue in the visitor economy. She invites you to check out their website and explore their incredible content, resources, and events! https://www.visitbellevuewa.com/
About the Speaker
Megan oversees destination stewardship, accessibility, and innovative arts and culture programming, while supporting Visit Bellevue’s marketing, communications, visitor experience, and destination sales programs. Megan is also responsible for leading community relations and aligning the city’s community and partner needs with Visit Bellevue’s tourism programs. According to Brad Jones, Executive Director of Visit Bellevue, “Megan has demonstrated her incredible ability to work with community stakeholders, and we are thrilled for her to lead innovative programs that focus on a sustainable visitor industry, promoting equitable economic opportunities, and preserving Bellevue’s cultures and environment as we develop Bellevue as a premier destination city.” [Follow Visit Bellevue on social media @visitbellevue and join the conversation.]
Megan brings over 20 years of dynamic experience in non-profit management, event coordination, and arts administration. Most recently, she served as Partnerships Manager at Visit Bellevue, where she fostered strong relationships with local businesses and stakeholders to enhance Bellevue’s tourism ecosystem. Her previous roles include Individual and Corporate Giving Manager at Issaquah’s Village Theatre, Marketing Manager and Event Coordinator at Mad Science, and host for Comcast’s “Home In-On-It” TV Show.
Megan is a member of the Bellevue Downtown Association and the Old Bellevue Merchant’s Association. She is also part of the Leadership Eastside Class of 2026, a program that develops community-focused leaders across the region. Her hobbies and passions evolve around the outdoors and the arts; she teaches dance and leads choreography on local productions.

"Prosthetic Restoration Project" via Zoom
2025-07-18 07:15 - 08:30 | The Salvation Army Eastside Corps, 911 164th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98008, United States
Doug Pinkley – Co-owner
Center for Prosthetics Orthotics Inc
Doug, along with another prosthetist Garth Knapp, took over the program management of the La Paz clinic 5 years ago. Normally Doug goes to the clinic twice a year for two weeks each time. The type of help given patients includes diagnosis and solutions such as artificial limbs, braces, etc. As knowledge of our clinic grows by word of mouth in both Baha California and the mainland, patients come from hundreds of miles away as there are very few options for those who cannot afford to pay for their care.
About the Speaker
Doug Pinkley CPO LPO is co-owner of Center for Prosthetics Orthotics Inc in Seattle and Bellevue. He has been there since 2004. Doug has a BA in Psychology and BS in Prosthetics and Orthotics, both from the University of Washington. He also was a volunteer with Washington Orthotic and Prosthetic Association for 3 years to help monitor and affect change of the state’s legislative and regulation processes. Since October 2016, he has been a volunteer and Practice Manager at a La Paz Mexico prosthetics and orthotics clinic.

"Update on Bellevue College"
2025-07-25 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Dr. David May – President
Bellevue College
Dr. David May, President of Bellevue College, will join us to provide a general update about Bellevue College, where the college is headed, how they got here as well as what’s next.
Betsi Hummer will introduce Dr. May.
About the Speaker
Dr. David May began his tenure as President at Bellevue College on July 1, 2023. A Pacific Northwest native, Dr. May has nearly 30 years of experience as an educator and leader in higher education in the state of Washington. Dr. May has focused his career on student success and regional partnerships. Holding a doctorate in political science from Washington State University, Dr. May is an expert in the area of Supreme Court politics. He is passionate about the role of higher education in producing responsible and engaged citizens and as an engine of social mobility.
Recognizing the critical role of public higher education as a point of access, opportunity, and excellence, Dr. May continues to focus on expanding educational opportunities for the entire range of diverse students that make up our region and our state.
In his time off, Dr. May spends time with his wife, daughter, and their dog Roscoe. He enjoys traveling with his family and year-round outdoor activities including biking, hiking, and backcountry skiing.

"Atlas Assistance Dogs: Creating Partnerships, Changing Lives"
2025-08-01 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Jennifer “Jen” Kolar – President
Atlas Service Dogs
Atlas Assistance Dogs is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support people with disabilities to train their own service dogs, educate ethical trainers, strengthen the human-canine bond, and promote a more inclusive society.
One in four Americans lives with a disability, yet fewer than 1% benefits from a service dog. High costs, long waitlists, and a lack of qualified and ethical trainers are all barriers for people to access the service dog that could change their life. Learn how Atlas is breaking down these barriers, creating partnerships, and changing lives.
About the Speaker
Jennifer Kolar is a founding board member and President of Atlas Assistance Dogs. In her nine-year tenure at Atlas, she has played a pivotal role, developing programs that cater to individuals with disabilities and their canine companions while also spearheading the creation of professional training offerings for service dog trainers.
Prior to her involvement with Atlas, Jennifer co-founded and nurtured a for-profit business specializing in owner-based service dog training.

"Selling Windows - Life After Microsoft"
2025-08-08 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Rick Locke – Owner / Entrepreneur
Windows, Doors and More and affiliated window businesses in the NorthwestRick will discuss his business journey after leaving Microsoft in 2009 to buy a small business, and share a few lessons learned in the corporate world that have informed and helped achieve my success as a business owner. He will compare and contrast his corporate experience with entrepreneurship and share some of his experiences with small business acquisition, ownership and management. Rick will also provide a bit of insight into the current economic conditions impacting commercial and residential construction in our market.
About the Speaker
Born nine months after the launch of Sputnik, Rick grew up in Eastern Washington in a time of rapid social, economic and technological change. He graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs!) in 1981 and has been selling Windows ever since.
He and his wife Tammy raised two sons, first in Woodinville and then on Clyde Hill, where they lived for 20 years. They have since downsized to a “cottage in the woods” on the 9th tee of Overlake golf course in Medina, where they have been for the past 8 years. They also have homes in La Quinta, California, and Bozeman Montana. Those of you with sons that have played basketball in the Eastside Traveling League over the years (there are thousands), may recognize Rick as the organizer and coordinator of that program for fourteen years.
Rick has sold windows in many forms. First residential windows for your homes at a local company called Milgard, then commercial glass and windows for major commercial buildings up and down the west coast. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas was his biggest project. That was 650,000 square feet of glass! He had a manufacturer’s rep business that he ultimately sold, that still has the website “Glassguys.com”.
Then, with a dramatic career change, he followed in his wife’s footsteps and went to Microsoft. There he sold Microsoft Windows, ultimately managing the Worldwide Dell Account team, responsible for the overall corporate relationship and billions of dollars of annual revenue.
Upon turning 50 (old by Microsoft standards) Rick decided to leave and pursue business ownership. That is where John Martinka ran into Rick. He was part of his year long quest to find a small business that could satisfy his entrepreneurial itch and keep him busy for the next few years. That was in 2013.
Since then, Rick has leveraged that first acquisition in Seattle, to nine locations in five states and over $50m in annual revenues. Today Rick owns Windows, Doors & More in Seattle, Montana Sash & Door in Bozeman, Kalispell, Jackson Wyoming and Couer d’Alene Idaho, and Island Sash & Door in Anacortes, Freeland, Eugene and Bend, Oregon.
His companies specialize in high end residential fenestration products. Some of you likely have products from his company in your homes. A significant percentage of their products are imported, so he may have lots to say about Tariffs (though we don’t have time for that rat hole).
Rick has also served on the Board of Directors for the National Glass Association, the country’s largest and most comprehensive trade organization for the glass, glazing and fenestration industry, for the last eight years. He is currently the Chairman of the Board. In that role he has travelled around the country presenting to State Chapters of the NGA on the “State of the Industry” as well as tightening the relationship between he national and local chapters. I expect we will hear some of that presentation as well

“Living a Legacy that Matters …A Lifestyle of Generosity!” via Zoom
2025-08-15 07:15 - 08:30 | The Salvation Army Eastside Corps, 911 164th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98008, United States
Alan Pratt – President, Northwest Region
The Signatry
Today’s program is truly stories displaying “Service Above Self!” Alan Pratt, a former long time (and missed) member of Bellevue Breakfast Rotary, will share wonderful stories of the generosity of his clients in providing legacy philanthropy. He will discuss both legacy gifts scheduled after his client’s passing as well as the newer trend to fulfill those legacy gifts while they are still alive and can see the benefits of their philanthropy.
About the Speaker
Alan Pratt, a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, serves as the President of The Signatry’s Northwest Region. With a passion for fostering transformative, biblical generosity, Alan partners with families to provide the creative tools, strategies, and insights needed to maximize their giving and create a lasting legacy. Rooted in trust, deep listening, and cultivating lifelong relationships, he draws on over three decades of personal and professional experience in guiding families to flourish across the generations. As a second-generation steward of family wealth, Alan brings unique personal understanding to his work, helping families model biblical generosity that aligns with their values and passions. In alignment with The Signatry’s mission to inspire and facilitate revolutionary generosity, Alan empowers families to leverage donor-advised funds, noncash asset giving and innovative financial tools, equipping them to make meaningful contributions to causes close to their hearts. His vision is to help families not only give generously, but also to live generously, impacting future generations and creating a ripple effect of lasting change.

“Handling customers who complain, as well as non-complainers, using AI”
2025-08-22 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Bill Price – Founder and President
Driva Solutions LLC
. “AI is becoming an essential tool to handle customers who complain or have simple questions and will soon enable organizations to identify and delight customers who do not bother to complain. Since non-complainers outnumber complainers by 4 to 20 to 1, and they churn at a much higher rate, Bill Price will share use cases using AI to diagnose and repair customer experiences.”
About the Speaker
Bill Price started Driva Solutions in September 2001 to help companies achieve the delicate balance between cost containment and greater customer loyalty. Among his company’s 160 clients are American Express, Avalara, Costco, Expedia, Google, Hyatt, McDonald’s, Southern California Edison, Stanford University, T-Mobile, and Vodafone. His new DrivaAI division is building a family of GenAI/LLM-based products to improve customer experience.
Bill co-founded the 9-country LimeBridge Global Alliance in early 2002 and chairs the 30-company Global Operations Council. He served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Creating Value, has been for many years an Advisor and frequent contributor to CustomerThink, has lectured at four business schools, and is the co-author of four books: The Best Service is No Service (2008), Your Customer Rules! (2015), The Frictionless Organization (2022), and Zero Complaints (2025). He is working on “book 5” that will come out in Spring 2026.
Bill served as Amazon’s 1st WW VP of Customer Service, and before that was Vice President & General Manager of MCI Call Center Services, COO & CFO with a start-up software company in San Francisco, and a Senior Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Company in San Francisco and Stockholm.
Bill received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his MBA from Stanford University and lives outside of Seattle in Bellevue, Washington.

“A Compassionate Approach to Biohazard Situations – Bio Clean Inc.”
2025-08-29 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Rhea Toles – Vice President and Owner
Bio Clean Inc.Rhea’s discussion today will expand on the following – Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is one of those interesting and unique programs we see on our TV screens — often sensationalized and founded in a “Whodunit?” storyline — but in real life, after evidence has been gathered, someone needs to clean up the aftermath. That’s where Bio Clean Inc. comes in.Well … sometimes.If not a crime scene, Bio Clean may also be called to help clean up in cases of unattended or self-inflicted deaths, hoarding situations, evictions, drug use, or any otherwise biohazardous (and often unpleasant or traumatic) environments.“It’s more than just cleaning — it’s therapy,” said Bio Clean owner, Rhea Toles. “We can clean out a whole house in a day, but what puts us back [timing-wise] is really dealing with a client. People think, ‘Oh, you’re just a cleaning company,’ but we are actually suicide-training certified, we’re first aid certified … It’s a lot more than that.”
About the Speaker
Rhea Toles is Vice President of Bio Clean Inc. headquartered in Marysville. Rhea and her husband acquired Bio Clean in 2022 from the founder, a first responder, who had started the business in 1998. Bio Clean is a woman- and minority-owned disaster response, biohazard and meth lab cleanup, and crime scene cleaner serving Washington.

The "Yes, and..." Manager: Fostering Creativity in Organizations!
2025-09-05 07:15 - 08:30 | The Bellevue Hilton, 300 112th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Bridget Quigg – Speaker, event host and author
BQ Productions
How do you bring out the best in others? Treat them like a genius! Coming from a background in both improvisational theater and Seattle tech startups, speaker Bridget Quigg will guide us through a session of games and lessons on creativity and collaborating with others. We’ll discuss the concept of being a “Yes, and…” manager and how that can transform an organization.
About the Speaker
Bridget Quigg is a 15-year tech veteran and founder of the “You’re a Genius” workshop series. After a successful career as a marketing director at some of Seattle’s hottest startups, Bridget decided to take her long history in comedy and teach corporate teams about creativity, collaboration, and the power of having fun together. She’s written and toured five, one-woman comedy shows, including her most recent one “Techlandia” which was featured in Geekwire and on NPR. She’s also the author of three books on intuition and creativity, including, “You’re Intuitive: A Guidebook for Hearing Your Inner Wisdom.” Consistently ranked as a favorite presenter at Microsoft events, Bridget likes to keep her sessions uplifting and fast-paced so that everyone goes home with a fresh perspective and ideas to take back to their team. Bridget is a graduate of Stanford University

"Intertwined Roots: Healing Communities and The Ecosystems after Conflict in the Colombian Caribbean" via Zoom
2025-09-19 07:15 - 08:30 | The Salvation Army Eastside Corps, 911 164th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98008, United States
Sindy J. Martínez Callejas & Dr. Felipe Roa-Clavijo – Researchers in Columbia S.A.
See bios below
This talk presents research conducted by Sindy Martinez and Dr. Felipe Roa-Clavijo, two Colombian researchers working in the region of Montes de María, in the Colombian Caribbean. Armed conflict caused deforestation and the displacement of rural communities in the year 2000. After residents returned, led by a resilient group of women who drew attention to the recovery of their territory and the endangered dry forest ecosystem, they now run a yam-producing association and a plant nursery to support restoration efforts. This case shows the strong link between conflict recovery, environmental restoration, grassroots leadership, as well as the importance of interdisciplinary research with high impact in their territory.
About the Speaker
Sindy J. Martínez Callejas is a researcher at the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute. She holds a degree in Ecology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) and a Master’s, Interdisciplinary Development Studies from Universidad de los Andes (Colombia). With over 13 years of experience in participatory research, her work primarily focuses on the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. She is particularly interested in understanding the relationships between society and nature and seeks to bridge the gap between these two spheres through participatory science approaches.
Dr. Felipe Roa-Clavijo holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Oxford and a Master’s, Public Administration from Seattle University. He is an expert in food security, agriculture, and rural development. He is the author of the books The Politics of Food Provisioning in Colombia (Routledge, 2022) and Política en el Plato (Ediciones Uniandes, 2024) and several documents in specialized publications. He is currently a professor at the School of Government at Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, and Associate Researcher at the University of Oxford.
